independent_tre

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Posts by independent_tre

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  15

  R.F. Update: I guess it's working....

  by R.F. in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  .....dropping of the face of the jw world is what i'm talking about.

  hello all, thought i'd fill anyone interested in on what's been going on with me............. well life has been great.

  my relationship with my parents is great even though it's been a year since i've severed all jw activities.

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  independent_tre

  Glad to hear things are going well for someone on this board
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  35

  Has Shunning Caused Anyone to Miss Seeing a Parent Before Their Death?

  by jamiebowers in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  reading about the passing of wings' mom got me to thinking.

  my mother has shunned me completely for the past 20 years with the exception of three conversations about health history.

  if i outlive my mom, the probability is great that she will die without me ever seeing or talking to her in any kind of meaningful way.

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  independent_tre

  This is such a sad topic, and I am deeply sorry for everyone's pain. I agree that I wouldn't DA myself for this very reason.

  This is another reason why I would never spend another minute in field service, trying to recruit anyone into this mess. My conscience would bother me knowing that something like this could be the end result; what a horrible way to tear apart loved ones.
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  31

  Aug 15-08 Study WT - More evil apostates!

  by still_in74 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  well i just got the aug 15 study edition.

  i flipped through it for about 10 seconds and found the word apostate.

  big surprise.

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  independent_tre

  I've always hated the "wait-for-clarification-because-you're-too-stupid-to-understand" argument. Nothing but a defensive cover for the GB to get away with flipflopping, going above and beyond scripture and false prophecies. But it's AMAZING how well it works on the r&f and how it can easily convince new ones to get baptized. It worked on me.
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  25

  The Watchtower Organization - A Toxic Parental Figure

  by Jeremy C in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  almost everyone who leaves the watchtower organization acknowledges the fact that the jehovahs witnesses leadership is quite masterful when it comes to using guilt as a means of motivation and coercion.

  throughout the watchtower articles, convention talks, and talks given by traveling overseers, there are often statements woven into the material that are designed to evoke feelings of guilt in those who are not robotically falling in line with all organizational programs and group-think.

  in addition to the many cliches, buzzwords, and catch-phrases used in watchtower material, the organization also makes comparisons between the field service activities of witnesses in one part of the world to another part of the world.

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  independent_tre

  Good analogy..

  I've always felt intimidated by the experiences given by individuals on the platform at assemblies and conventions. "I've had every disease, no car, no job, no roof over my head, but I still put Jehovah first and I put in 100 hours a week in field service and have a gazillion bible studies started." - And I'm sittin' there like, how am I supposed to compete with that???

  And please don't let me complain about anything like driving 80 miles to and from the DC, lest I be accused of "murmuring"...
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  9

  What are some of the biggest changes in the org?

  by My Struggle in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there have been some big changes over the past few years.

  what do you think are the most important?.

  personally... 1.no bookstudy.

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  independent_tre

  public talk being reduced to 30 mins.... that was kind of big for me
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  138

  Why I will NEVER be an elder again

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so the po confirmed what many on this board already know.

  at latest round of co to elders meeting, the co quoted from the society outline.

  any elder or ms who encourages college for his kids or others or who allows his children to go to college will no longer qualify.. he then asked if i was going to take the cos encouragement and reach out again to be an elder and get my hours on the ministry up.. i replied "i will never be an elder again - i strongly approve of further education and college and have been through college myself.

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  independent_tre

  This "policy" is insanely riduculous and just another example of a WT flip-flop, because just a few years ago, the decision to pursue a higher education was considered a personal one. Apparently, too many witnesses took advantage because I know people who were in the org for decades and went back to school and pursued their BA's and even Masters degrees. But the last study ed. of the WT harped on higher education and so does the next one, when it talks about youth wisely avoiding higher education and pursuing spiritual goals. What a load of bullcrap. I also agree with the poster that stated if such policy is to be widely enacted, the WTS is just hastening its demise.

  Jeremy stated:

  First of all, if you study all of the writings of the apostles as they pertain to qualifications for "older men" in the congregation, one will find that this kind of policy is an arrogant overwriting of those qualifications. There is nothing in the Christian Greek Scriptures to support invalidating qualifications to eldership based upon personal education decisions.

  Of course! And soooo many other policies,( read: burdens) the society puts on the backs of the r & f have no scriptural backing whatsoever. FS reports, no beards policy, no prom or sports activities, don't toast, no yoga, etc, etc.... None of these have any scriptural backing. These are organizational rules, not scriptural doctrines.
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  12

  How to understand the new "study edition" Watchtower

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it is written in code.

  you need to apply a "substitution algorithm".. once you do that, it all makes perfect sense.. there are 2 primary substitutions: .

  1) whenever you read "the bible" in an article, substitute in "the watchtower".

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  independent_tre

  LOL

  yield or be yielding = mindless obedience

  1879, 1914, 1919, 1935 = unscriptural numerology or tomorrow's lottery numbers

  voice of strangers = anyone who disagrees with WT dogma
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  12

  It's so good to be free

  by Frequent_Fader_Miles in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  ive been lurking round this board for a couple months now.

  all the experiences ive read have been so eye opening for me.

  i thought i was the only one with doubts gnawing at the back of my mind; its so nice to know im not alone.

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  independent_tre

  Thanks for sharing. I really like this site because it seems nothing is ever deleted and sometimes I come across old posts of experiences that gives me hope. Sorry for the lateness, but I just joined last month :)
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  50

  How Did You Deal With Weirdo Witnesses?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know that some believe all jws are "weird".

  but i'm not talking about that.. there are some real weird witnesses!

  you know, the ones everyone had in their hall that everyone talked about or laughed at.. we had one 25 year old man who was pioneering and he used to go out to literally every neighborhood in the city.

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  independent_tre

  We had a weird elder in our Hall. He was single, lived alone and NEVER allowed anyone in his apartment. And if you happened to be in the neighborhood and dropped by, he'd open the door a crack and tell you he was busy. I really started thinking either he had a woman in there or a dead body.

  Reminds me of a JW relative of mine, seriously. He lives alone and doesn't allow anyone in his apartment, ever. One time my sisters stopped by to see him and he made them wait outside and finally came out and spoke to them in the hallway of the building. Strange.

  I've known quite a few weirdo witnesses. When I was younger, I was friends with a sister who was a compulsive liar. I mean she lied about things like witnessing murders and being kidnapped by aliens. Years later she was DF'd and joined the Catholic church. There's a JW brother at my job who wears prom gear to work everyday minus the tuxedo coat. And he speaks like a robot all the time, like he's reading from a script.

  But in all honesty, I don't think there is a higher ratio of weirdo JW's than the general population. Some people are just square pegs trying to fit into round holes. Or is it the other way around?
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  66

  Tattoos are they for you?

  by Hope4Others in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was standing in line at the grocery store today and looked next to me, there was a woman about 60, its been 23 degrees celsius here so.

  the capri's are out.

  anyways you notice the legs and she has about a 5in by 4in tattoo on the side of her leg.

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  independent_tre

  I already have 2 one on my back , one at bikini line, and I'm dying to get another of an ankh on the back of my neck, but I can't, cause....well... you know..